Speaking at a textile outreach programme in Kolkata, Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has claimed that the exports of jute diversified products have risen by 24% since 2014. She said that jute is the currency for the day and it has contributed for West Bengal to flourish for years. She made the statement while inaugurating the ‘Artisan Speak & Jute Expo’, a textiles outreach initiative of her ministry. The four-day Artisan Speak and Jute Expo shall have delegates from 14 nations and more than 70 buyers.
Around 3.7 lakh mill workers are directly employed by the jute industry along with lakhs of farmers producing jute. “I would request the jute industry to take into consideration the welfare of farmers and workers. Whenever the industry gets any packaging order from the Centre they should pay the farmers and workers first,” she said.
Textiles Secretary Raghavendra Singh said the ministry is trying to connect the weavers with big companies for realizing higher margins.
